A sweeping federal review has found that nearly 44% of the more than 16,000 truck-driving programs listed nationwide may be violating basic training requirements—putting thousands of schools at risk of losing their certification and sending shockwaves through the commercial driving industry.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced Monday that it will revoke the certification of almost 3,000 trucking schools unless they meet federal standards within 30 days. Another 4,500 schools were issued warnings and could face similar penalties if they fail to correct deficiencies.
Schools that lose certification will no longer be able to issue federally required training documents, making it unlikely they could retain students or continue operating. Officials say it is unclear how many of the flagged schools were active or enrolling students.
Federal Crackdown Intensifies After Deadly Crashes
The federal action is part of a broader crackdown aimed at strengthening commercial driver qualifications. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy launched the initiative following a tragic Florida crash caused by a truck driver who, according to Duffy, was not authorized to be in the country and illegally executed a U-turn, killing three people.
The DOT is also coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security, which has been auditing immigrant-owned trucking companies in California to verify drivers’ legal status and commercial license eligibility.
Duffy has threatened to withdraw federal funding from several states—including California, Pennsylvania, and most recently Minnesota—over licensing failures. Minnesota faces the potential loss of $30.4 million unless it revokes improperly issued licenses and improves its verification processes.
A spokesperson for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said the state has already taken steps to comply with federal law and ensure roadway safety.
Questionable “CDL Mills” Targeted
Industry leaders say the review is long overdue. According to Andrew Poliakoff, executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Training Association, many of the schools facing decertification are so-called “CDL mills”—programs that promise to certify drivers in a matter of days with minimal training.
“These places were fleecing people out of money,” Poliakoff said, noting that legitimate schools require at least a month of classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction. None of the association’s member schools were affected by the federal action.
DOT officials found that targeted schools failed to meet training standards, lacked complete records, or falsified training data. Some of the programs had already ceased operations.
One former school owner, Yogi Sanwal, said his program closed in 2022 after new accreditation requirements triggered costly facility upgrades his company couldn’t afford.
Support—and Backlash—from the Industry
Trucking groups broadly support the push to raise training standards. Nevada Trucking Association CEO Paul J. Enos said eliminating bad actors is critical for road safety, especially as poorly trained drivers operate heavy commercial vehicles.
But organizations representing immigrant truck drivers say they are being unfairly scrutinized, noting the large contribution of Sikh and Punjabi drivers to the U.S. supply chain. Sikh drivers account for roughly 40% of West Coast truckers and 20% of drivers nationwide, according to advocacy groups.
UNITED SIKHS condemned aggressive immigration audits, saying law-abiding drivers are being treated “like suspects.”
“When federal agencies frame lawful, licensed drivers as risks, it doesn’t improve safety—it fuels xenophobia and endangers the national supply chain,” the group said.
The concern deepened after California moved to revoke 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses that federal officials flagged as improperly issued.
What Comes Next
With thousands of schools facing decertification and the industry already battling a nationwide driver shortage, it is unclear how the crackdown will affect commercial freight operations. The DOT maintains that strengthening training requirements is essential to prevent future tragedies.
Todd Spencer, president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, emphasized the need for oversight: “When training standards are weak—or non-existent—drivers are unprepared, and everyone on the road pays the price.”
The coming weeks will determine whether the targeted schools can meet federal expectations or whether the trucking industry will face a new wave of disruptions.